Sunday Reflections (Oct 25/26)

This past Sunday Bethany and Michael Hoskin shared on their summer 2026 short-term mission to Angola. They described their activities there which included painting original murals for the CFB Livingstone School and the CEML Hospital, as well as taking inventory of a few of the hospital’s storage containers. Bethany and her husband travelled to Lubango, Angola in south-west Africa, for a month this past August (sending organization: SIM Canada). They are grateful for the support of Altadore in their ministry and mission work! Find out more about the trip, see their videos, and follow their blog at: www.bethanyandmichael.com

Join us for our next Sanctuary Service with Communion, this Sunday, November 1st at 10 am.

Sunday Reflections (Oct 18/26)

Hezekiah was known as a good king. When faced with bad news, he often turned to God in prayer, and God responded. But when Isaiah tells him that his own descendants will be carried off to Babylon, Hezekiah’s response is essentially, “At least there will be peace in my lifetime.”

I was convicted by how easily I can become concerned only with the things that affect me. Grace is meant to flow. It flows from God to us, from us to one another, and outward into creation. It isn’t meant to stop the moment we get what we want.

Jesus too, prayed when faced with overwhelming difficulty. In the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed that the cup of suffering might pass from him. But he ended with a different response: “Your will be done.”

Jesus entrusted himself to God, even when the path ahead meant suffering. His prayer reminds me that God’s grace and purposes extend beyond my own comfort, my own lifetime, and my own experience.

May the grace we’ve received flow to the next generation and not stop with us.

Pastor Justin Bills

Join us for our next Table Church, this Sunday, October 25 at 10 am.

Sunday Reflections (Oct 11/26)

Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” All circumstances? How do we do that when life gets really, really hard?

Sometimes we start with “at least.” We count our blessings and remind ourselves that things could be worse. But what happens when “at least” isn’t enough?

Habakkuk knows what it’s like to face that question. He wrestles honestly with God about how bad things are, only to learn that things will get worse. Yet, in the midst of devastation, he remembers God’s faithfulness and declares:

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:18)

Habakkuk doesn’t say “at least.” He says, “Yet I.”

Gratitude doesn’t mean being thankful for everything that happens, or pretending that suffering isn’t real. It means learning to trust in who God is, even when our circumstances give us little reason to be thankful.

Even here. Even now. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.

Pastor Justin Bills

Join us for our next Sanctuary Service, this Sunday, October 18 at 10 am.

Sunday Reflections (Oct 4/26)

If someone snuck into the back pew of the sanctuary, gave you a little nudge, and asked “What is communion?” what would you say?

You might explain the last meal Jesus shared with his friends. You might talk about Passover, the meal Jesus was celebrating and reinterpreting. Or maybe you would simply say: “Perhaps you came here because you’ve come to the end of yourself. Deep down, you’re longing for someone to give you something you cannot give yourself. Communion is Jesus giving you that: the forgiveness of your sins, himself, and the restoration of the covenant that was lost.”

Maybe that is what communion is: Christ meeting us at the table with what we cannot give ourselves.

Pastor Justin Bills

Join us for Thanksgiving Table Church, this Sunday, October 11 at 10 am in the gym.

Sunday Reflections (Sept 27/26)

On Sunday, we looked ahead to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” There was a time when some Christians supported the idea that land could be considered empty or unclaimed, even when Indigenous peoples were already living on it, and that Christians had the right to take it. These beliefs caused deep harm and continue to. 

So how do we begin to refute them?

Perhaps with a humbler understanding of God’s presence: there is no land void of God, and there are no people void of the image of God. God has always been at work in this world, including in places and among people we may not have recognized.

Our posture, then, is not to assume that we are bringing God somewhere God has never been. It is to become humble enough to notice where God is already present.

Like Jacob, we might find ourselves saying:

“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”

Pastor Justin Bills

Join us for our next Sanctuary Service with Communion, Sunday, October 4th at 10 am.

Sunday Reflections (Sept 20/26)

What does it mean to be called to follow Jesus? Nathanael gives us an interesting example of calling in John 1. He's skeptical, but that doesn't bother Jesus. Jesus seems to like that he comes as he is, even with his doubts. Then Jesus sees him. They have an interaction about a fig tree, something only Nathanael and Jesus seemed to know. Nathanael realized Jesus really sees him, and he then puts his Faith in him. Finally, not much else is mentioned about Nathanael in John, just that he was there at the end. That's beautiful. Nathan comes as he is, realizes he is seen by Jesus, puts his faith in him, and then faithfully and humbly follows Jesus to the very end. 

Pastor Justin Bills

Join us for Table Church on Sunday, September 27th in the hall and lounge spaces.

Sunday Reflections (Sept 6/26)

On Sunday, Pastor Justin shared from his own experience of burnout. Burnout doesn’t always come from simply having too much to do. Sometimes it comes from listening to the voices—internally or externally—that tell us we have to earn our keep before we can be loved.

In Song of Songs, the woman speaks of a neglected vineyard. But by the end of the story, her vineyard has come back to life. She discovers that her identity is not found in the voices demanding her production, but in the voice of the one who sees her as whole and beautiful.

She lets her heart find the one it desires.

And his voice becomes the definitive one.

What if healing begins when we stop listening to the voices that tell us what we must produce, and start listening to the voice that tells us who we are?

Join us for Table Church on Sunday, September 13th in the hall and lounge spaces.

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Ten (August 30/26)

On Sunday, Sandra reflected on her personal journey of faith, belonging, and finding her way home after experiencing rejection, drawing on Luke 15:11–32, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. After leaving the Altadore church community she had once considered home, she spent many years feeling distant from God and wondering whether there was still a place for her in the church.

When Sandra returned to Altadore 25 years later, she was met with hugs, recognition, and love. It made her wonder if this was what the prodigal son experienced when he returned home—uncertain of his reception, but discovering that the door was still open. Sandra shared a message of hope about God’s faithfulness and the importance of creating a church where those who have felt rejected can find their way home.

Join us for our Communion Service on Sunday, September 6th.

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Nine (August 23/26)

This past Sunday, Kristina shared her testimony of God’s love and faithfulness through times of grief and loss. In the midst of the valley of the shadow of death, God’s love can come to us through bees, friendships, kindness, and simple, faithful prayers. Kristina left us with her example of courage and vulnerability, reminding us from Joshua 1:9 to be strong and courageous, knowing that God is with us.

Join us for Week Ten of Cottage Church on Sunday, August 30th.

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Eight (August 16/26)

On Sunday, Oman shared his journey (in the literal sense) with us. While hearing his story one could not help but to be reminded of those great journeys throughout the bible, the Israelites in the desert, Jesus' walk to Jerusalem...  It is easy some days to forget that our lives are filled with those long, unexpected walks - spiritual or physical. Thank you, Oman, for reminding us of the ways God share's his light through the process of journey. May we all begin each day with an intent to wander, to find new pieces of our Creator's world, to meet new and familiar people and love them as God does. For we know that Christ walks with us, and we will never stumble that he would not bring us back to our feet.

Join us for Week Nine of Cottage Church on Sunday, August 23rd.

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Seven (August 9/26)

This past Sunday we all joined together for a wonderful time of singing hymns like:

All Creatures Of Our God and King, Emmanuel, They’ll Know We Are Christians, and Pass It On. Thanks to Shawn Malsbury and Trudy Feldmeyer for leading us in singing these lasting favourites...

In his book ‘Songs for All Seasons’ Chuck Swindoll wrote:

“It’s amazing how those grand theological truths woven through each stanza of a hymn took up permanent residence in my heart and mind. Even today, I keep a dog-eared hymnal on my desk and in my times with the Lord, I often turn to one of those old standbys and allow the familiar strains to fill my heart again.”

Join us for Week Seven of Cottage Church on Sunday, August 9th. For a Hymn Sing!

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Six (August 9/26)

On Sunday, Evangeline shared with us her experiences of life and ministry in Lebanon as CBM Global Staff. She compared the experience of the disciples walking the road to Emmaus to the present suffering of the people of Lebanon, revealing how deeply human it is to walk with “faces downcast” when hope feels deferred. Just as the disciples trudged home in confusion after witnessing Jesus’ death, many in Lebanon—and many of us here in Canada—carry a bone‑deep weariness from a world that feels increasingly fragile. Her message challenged the idea that resilience alone is enough. Resilience may keep us walking, but it can also feel like a long, exhausting “wall sit of the soul.” What we truly long for is not just endurance, but transformation—something that interrupts our status quo the way Christ’s resurrection interrupted the disciples’ grief.

We are invited to become people of resurrection, not only resilience. Like Jesus opening the Scriptures on the road, we are called to see the cosmic story God is writing—one in which renewal is not wishful thinking but a divine reality already breaking in. Just as Christ showed the disciples signs of resurrection in his wounds and the miracles he performed, we are called to embody signs of His kingdom through mercy, healing, and hope, even in times of destruction and discouragement. And like the disciples whose eyes were opened in the breaking of bread, we are reminded that resurrection becomes real when we encounter Christ intimately.

Whether through emergency relief in Lebanon, mentoring youth, comforting prisoners, or simply choosing to create beauty in dark times, we participate with the living Christ who still walks beside the weary. As we come to the communion table, these stories remind us to pray not only for resilience, but for the miracle of renewal—for hearts burning again, for communities restored, and for resurrection life to rise in Lebanon and here at home.

Join us for Week Seven of Cottage Church on Sunday, August 9th. For a Hymn Sing!

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Five (Jul 26/26)

This past Sunday Bethany and Michael Hoskin shared on “From Singleness to Partnership… in Mission”. They described their long and fulfilling lives as single people and what it has been like to find someone to partner with, especially on mission. This coming weekend, Bethany and her husband travel to Lubango, Angola in south-west Africa, for a month on short-term mission trip (sending organization: SIM Canada). They will partner there with local missionaries and organizations like the CEML Hospital, in teaching ESL, and in painting a few original murals. In addition they hope to assist the hospital with its inventory system. They are grateful for the support of Altadore in their ministry and mission work and look forward to seeing where God guides them next in their marriage… Find out more about the trip, see their videos, and follow their blog at: www.bethanyandmichael.com

Join us for Week Six of Cottage Church on Sunday, August 2nd. Evangeline Hammond will be sharing her story…

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Four (Jul 19/26)

This past Sunday McQuina spoke on “Trust and Obey” - living as a Christian with anxiety. She opened up about the struggles of trusting God, when everything makes you afraid. Small changes feel big and big changes feel impossible... God is not there to make them go away, but to be present with us through the motions (good and bad).

Having a hard time doesn’t mean God isn’t there and he certainly doesn’t expect you to be ok all of the time. Sometimes “trusting” God is letting yourself feel afraid.

Join us for Week Five of Cottage Church on Sunday, July 26th. Bethany and Michael Hoskin will be sharing their story…

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Three (Jul 12/26)

This past Sunday at Cottage Church, Judy Macalino shared a powerful reflection on finding God's comfort during unwanted transitions. Drawing on her personal journey from elite athletics into chronic illness. Judy highlighted a profound truth: God is not a hollow affirmation we repeat to ourselves. Instead, He is a real Spirit who brings true peace. When we seek Jesus, who knows our grief intimately, His Spirit provides comfort tailored specifically to our heart.

Our post-service conversation focused heavily on the reality that God never promises a life free of trouble. Instead, He promises His presence and the assurance that He has already overcome the world's troubles. While we may sometimes suffer without human company, we never have to suffer without God. True Christian resilience occurs when God infuses us with His own brave heart, building an unshakeable tabernacle within us.

The theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer deeply understood this mystery. He lived as both the courageous man others saw and the weary person he knew himself to be. Neither reality canceled out the other; strength and vulnerability coexisted completely. Bonhoeffer knew his true identity lay beyond his fluctuating emotions. It was anchored at the foot of the cross, where suffering was ultimately overcome. As he famously wrote in his poem Who Am I?: "Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine." 

Judy invites us to encounter God. To know with absolute certainty that the God who dwells within us will never leave us. He has overcome all suffering. No matter what comes next, we are completely known, and we belong wholly to Him.  

Join us for Week Four of Cottage Church on Sunday, July 19th. McQuina Peters will be sharing her story…

Cottage Church Reflections, Week Two (Jul 5/26)

Listening to Shawn and Lara share about their transition into their calling with The Salvation Army was encouraging. What stood out was the joy that can come from trusting God through seasons of change. Their story reminds us that transitions are not always easy or predictable, but they can become opportunities to grow in faith and to see God's guidance more clearly. The message from Isaiah 28 reinforced the importance of building our lives on God's firm foundation and trusting His wisdom as He leads us step by step. We were also reminded that, as we follow God's call, we are never alone. God goes before us, surrounds us with His presence, and His angel armies watch over His people as they walk in faith. It was a meaningful reminder that God is faithful in every season and that following His call brings both purpose, hope, and the confidence that He is always with us.

Join us Week Three of Cottage Church on Sunday, July 12th Judy Macalino will be sharing her story…

Cottage Church Reflection, Week One (June 28/26)

This past Sunday at Cottage Church, Trudy shared a beautiful reflection on what it means to love someone through transition.

Using the life of a butterfly as her guide, she invited us to consider how transformation is rarely easy or immediate. There are seasons of uncertainty, grief, courage, waiting, and profound joy. Supporting someone we love through change often asks something of us too. It calls us to let go, to learn, to trust, and to keep choosing love.

Thank you, Trudy, for reminding us that transformation isn't something to fear. It's woven into creation itself. And sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is stay present long enough to watch someone spread their wings.

Join us Week Two of Cottage Church on Sunday, July 5th Lara Peters & Shawn Malsbury will be sharing their story…

Prayers and Reflections

This Sunday morning June 28, 2026 following Cottage Church the membership at Altadore Church meet to vote on a new lead pastor candidate. May the following scriptures guide your prayers...

Colossians 4:2-4 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; ...praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak...”

Hebrews 13: 7, 17 “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you … so that their work will be a joy, not a burden...”

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word … correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Guest Speaker Reflection

The following is more information about the entities Rod Olson shared about on Sunday during his Table Church Topic: “Protocol of Belonging…”

Land of Dreams 

I started Land of Dreams with Calgary Catholic Immigration Society as the fiscal partner in 2019. It is a  30 acre mulituultural farm on provincial land 6525 84 Street SE. It is built on three pillars - building relationship with our Indigenous community, providing access to land for newcomers with agricultural backgrounds and together repairing a former construction site through regenerative agriculture. 

It has been a labour of love and I am about to launch the 2.0 version that will be offering support for food sovereignty and food security in the City. One of my favourite things is to watch someone grow a plant that is common in their country here - purslane for the Yazidi women and Black Night shade for the Cameroonian communities. You can see "home" flash across their eyes. 

I have created a not for profit to better align the work to food sovereignty - it is called Land of Dreams Urban Farm & Cultural Centre so there is a moving on from CCIS and we are building in a new site as well. If anyone is interested I do have a newsletter that you can join by emailing connect@landofdreams.earth

EnerGaia 

This is a start up created by myself and two other partners (Greg and Jason) both from Calgary. 

We are an environmental infrastructure project that takes Palm Oil mill waste and turns it into valuable products. 

Each mill has mountains of Empty Fruit Bunch waste which can be turned into biochar through pyrolysis - this becomes a soil amendment that can improve the fertility, structure and water holding capacity of the soil. We are looking to ship the stable biochar into the UAE to assist with "greening the desert". 

Each mill also has several ponds of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) which is produced through steam sterilization of the fruit when it comes in from the field. These ponds (typically 10-12 on each palm oil mill are responsible for 7% of Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane and through our membrane technology we can eliminate that. 

It has been a very educational journey - we are in the midst of a raise so we are always happy to tell the story to anyone that might be interested in diversifying their investments into work that intends to make a big impact. 

REV. RYAN'S FAREWELL AND SERMON REFLECTION

On behalf of Sandy and myself, I offer a huge "Thank you!" for a fantastic Sunday and Pot-Luck frivolities and cheer. Y'all are an amazing, faithful, fun, devoted and kind-hearted Church and you have certainly blessed my heart as I have served alongside you in the past several months. The Lord will continue to have good things in store for you. . . and I am grateful to have been a part of the ministry of this church for such a time as this.

This past Sunday, we also spent sometime in ACT IV of the Godstory. . . and yes, the ACT is all about Jesus! And I invited us to stand alongside the NSM (the newly-sighted man) of John chapter 9 and receive and hear the blessings and promises of Jesus as Jesus talked about being a Shepherd and the "way" (gate) to abundant life (John 10:10).  We talked of life in the A.S.P. (the Altadore Sheep Pen) and though we acknowledged that it wasn't always neat and tidy, it's a place where we can cultivate and nurture affection and loving support. 

We don't do this in our own strength! We pour out affection and loving support as the Spirit of Jesus pours affection and loving support into our lives. Jesus consoles and companions with us and promises that nothing will overwhelm us. . . for no one will snatch us out of the hands of Jesus (John 10:28). 

So. . . this week, know that you are nurtured and cared for! Keep on reflecting upon and drawing encouragement from the images of Psalm 23 (see the FNV version attached) and if the "breath prayer" that we learned on Sunday is meaningful, keep on praying it and breathing it!

May we behold ourselves and others. . . with loving kindness and faithful care.

Peace be with you!
Rev. Ryan